Let's go to the phones. Let's start with Tim in Florida. Hello, Tim. Thanks for calling today.

You're welcome. I want to know what you think are best practices for how you can

influence your family and friends away from the world into the church. And I not only want

your short take,

but if you could also recommend books or videos

that will give us best practices.

Okay.

So when you say you want my short take,

is that your way of telling me to keep it short?

Keep my answer brief.

No, that's my way of telling you that I recognize that you can only give me so many minutes.

Yeah, I understand.

No, I have a penchant for going long at times, so no, I understand.

Well, best practices, I think ultimately best practices were given to us by the Lord,

and that would include

pray always, rely on God's providence, ask him for what you need, be vigilant in not only guarding

your own soul and taking care that you don't mix the world with your faith.

As Jesus said, you know, you were in the world, but not of the world.

So these are all rather pro forma, not to diminish the importance of what Jesus said,

but they're so kind of basic and obvious that that's where we should start.

Pray in the home, let your children see that you and your wife are really truly followers of Jesus,

that it's not just lip service or it's not just, you know, we do the God thing for an hour

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